Cybercrime Is Rising, Do You Need Cyber Security?

January 23, 2023

Find Out if Your Church, School or Nonprofit Is at Risk of a Cyber Attack

Find Out if Your Church, School or Nonprofit Is at Risk of a Cyber Attack

You may be thinking… Our organization does not need cyber security because it’s too small to be a target for hackers. But, did you know the majority of cyber attacks aim for small business organizations?

Hackers typically go after companies with fewer than 100 employees.
Inc. Magazine
www.inc.com

The number of cyber attacks more than doubled in 2021 as a result of COVID and are still on the rise. This is because the pandemic caused people to be on social media more often and remote working became the norm. At the present time, cyber security should be a concern for anyone connecting to the internet..

Awareness for Data Security

Data Privacy Week: January 24-28, 2023
Data Privacy Day: January 28, 2023

Did you know hackers tend to prey more often on nonprofits like churches and private schools? One reason is because these businesses have more “trusting” people working or volunteering. But the main reason is because they do not have the resources for costly cyber security services. More specifically, funds are tight for nonprofits and a cyber attack is not on their minds.

Like all enterprises, small businesses have to handle customer data including PII (personally identifiable information) as well. But they rarely have the resources to effectively safeguard that data against the surrounding cyber threats.
CyberSecurity Magazine
cybersecurity-magazine.com

So, how can you be sure if your organization is at risk? In this article, while we shed light on cyber threats and some ways to help defend against them. We will also cover ways to protect your organization in case you do get hacked resulting in a data breach. Generally, our goal is to show you how cyber attacks effect businesses like yours. Once you know more about it, you can better protect yourself and the people trusting you with their info.

To start, we must understand the risks involved with online activities. Only then can we start to understand how to defend ourselves and our business.

The Good: Convenience of Digital

The exchange of personal information is an essential part of everyday business operations. Furthermore, this data in digital format is what allows our consumer services to be smarter and faster. Also, the internet is still, by far, the easiest way for businesses to interact with their users.

Person Tithing Online using Laptop photo

Generally speaking, below are some ways you may be exchanging personal information online:

Offering/Tithing
Donations
Tuitions
Home address
Personal information for employment
Social Security numbers for background checks

Consequently, with these conveniences come the chance of a dreaded cyber attack on you and/or your business. Furthermore, the risks are rising and will continue to for the foreseeable future.

The Bad: Cyber Security Attacks Are on the Rise

What is a cyber attack?

cyberattack (noun)
An attempt to gain illegal access to a computer or computer system for the purpose of causing damage or harm.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
www.merriam-webster.com

The number of cyber attacks grow as more organizations conduct business online. Moreover, cyber security threats come in many sneaky and deceitful ways. Embedded in anything from an email, to a website, and even in a JPG image file although not that common anymore. Nonetheless, If not caught, they can cause damage to an organization and the individuals involved.

But the security software we pay for yearly should warn and protect us from phishing and malware threats, right?

Well most of the time… Surprisingly, the real issue is the mishandling of info that creates a black hole in even the best security software. Presently, the simple truth is, a cyber attack can happen to anyone… Despite the extra measures and best efforts to prevent a data breach.

A Hacker Hacking a Computer Network photo

The Ugly: Data Breaches Cost the World Trillions Every Year

What is a data breach?

A data breach is a security violation, in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen, altered or used by an individual unauthorized to do so.
Wikipedia Encyclopedia
wikipedia.org

Accordingly, a successful cyber attack is most always followed by a data breach. Because hackers steal private information on people and organizations yo use it against them. The below infographic shows the expected cost of cybercrime each year until 2017.

Infographic: Cybercrime Expected To Skyrocket in Coming Years | Statista

Infographic by Statista

Fight Back With Cyber Security Measures

Basically, to protect your organization from a cyber attack, you must know what cyber security does. Then we can understand more about how to use it. Firstly, lets start with the definition of cyber security and what it actually means.

What is cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the art of protecting networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access or criminal use and the practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
CISA
www.cisa.gov

The key word above is “art”, because no one solution can protect you completely. Overall, a combination of security measures is best. But, what works for one nonprofit cyber security doesn’t mean it will work for another. School cyber security looks different than cyber security for churches. Certain conditions in your organization may put you more, or less, at risk of a cyber attack than others. Following are some basic cyber security measures you should have in place currently.

Anti-malware software installed on all devices in your organization is a great start. But is doesn’t stop there… Be cognizant of passwords by making them difficult for a hacker to guess. Never give your password out to anyone unless you know that person in your organization. And, never send sensitive info by email, even if you are positive the email address you are sending to is correct.

Cyber Insurance Is Protection in Case of the Worst

What is cyber liability insurance?

Cyber insurance generally covers your business’ liability for a data breach involving sensitive customer information, such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, account numbers, driver’s license numbers and health records.
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
www.nationwide.com

Security breaches are expensive, not only in the initial damage, but also in the aftermath. The costs associated with a successful cyber security attack and data breach include:

investigations
legal fees
fines
penalties
and more…

But the most important and even greater cost is the damage to the business reputation. Once hacked and private data breached, most small businesses do not survive.

83% of small and medium-sized businesses are not financially prepared to recover from a cyber attack.
Cybercrime Magazine
cybersecurityventures.com

For coverage in the event of a cyber attack and data breach, you need insurance specific to cyber crime. Therefore, it is crucial to have a cyber security policy in place at your organization. Specifically to help mitigate the risks involved in the exchange of sensitive information.

Cyber Insurance Coverage Checklist

The below cyber security checklist is to ensure all needed tasks get done. Check-off items you have completed below to help you keep track of tasks that still need done. To emphasize, a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link. While the potential for a cyber crime to happen is all day, every day. So, get started soon… The sooner the better.

Your Cyber Security Checklist

Establish What Is an Appropriate Use of Internet Access and Use Parental Controls When Possible

Identify What Information Cyber Criminals Are Really After, Including Identity Information, Employee Files and Financial Documentation

Create Strong Passwords and Update Them Often
If you’re concerned about remembering passwords, just think outside the box:
A=@ i=! Co=% L=/ S=$ o=0 (zero)
Example: Instead of Allison121165 turn it into @//!$0Nl2ll65
– Be sure to mix in some upper and lower case letters outside of standard sentence case formatting.
– Stay away from birth dates, consecutive numbers or using easy to guess words like “password”

Inform All Employees and Relevant Volunteers About the Cyber Security Policies
Include it in your employee manual or new hire training. Make sure everyone knows the expectation for proper internet usage, passwords and secure information protocols.

Restrict Authority for Software Installations, Data Protection and Your Sensitive Information to the Most Need To Know
Assign a network administrator to initiate all software updates and routinely check on the system access points.

Keep Your Network and Data Protection Software up to Date
This will prevent cybercriminals from using vulnerable, outdated software as an easy entry to your network.

Invest in a Firewall Intended for Your Size Network
A program created to protect a single residential computer just won’t cut it for a large church or school.

Back Up Your Data Regularly to a Physical Hard Drive (On Premises) And via the Cloud (Off Premises)

Secure Your WIFI!
Have a hidden, password protected Wi-Fi network for the office and pastoral staff. The name should be protected from anyone searching for open Wi-Fi. If you want to provide access for your members, use a guest network with an obvious name (XYZ church)

Install Anti-malware Software Onto All Computers That Access Your Network, Both via Hard Wire and WIFI

Don’t Forget About Cell Phones, Tablets, Smart Watches, Handheld Video Games (Switch, Ds, Psp’s Etc) And Other Mobile Devices That Automatically Link to the Network
Once access is provided, that device has access until the passcode is changed, so make sure that these devices are also protected with security apps to encrypt their data. Be picky about who gets those passcodes. You trust your secretary, but do you trust their 12-year-old who linked his video game to the network and PROMPTLY left it on a pew after service?

Report Any Lost or Stolen Mobile Devices and Computer Hardware Immediately!!!

The FBI reported close to $7 billion lost to cyber crime in the US in 2021
FBI
www.fbi.gov

Cyber Security Risk Questionnaire

Is Your Organization at Risk of a Cyber Attack?

Take this short Cyber Security Questionnaire for a quick analysis:

Cyber Security Risk Questionnaire

Conclusion

Lastly, our hope is the information in this article is of use to you and your business. Without doubt, we know the world is always changing and the technology serving us is often misused. And despite the selfless service of your organization, there are still operational hazards. Not to mention, the uncontrollable pitfalls that you need protection against for the longevity of your mission.

At Beacon, lighting the way to your peace of mind is our mission.
Thus our goal keeps us driven to provide the coverage you need to find that peace of mind.

The Beacon difference is in our expertise. We have served the insurance needs of churches, private schools and nonprofits for over a decade. Likewise, Beacon provides safety resources to help reduce your cyber security risk. We also offer the coverage you need to continue your mission of service.

Contact us today to have us review your existing cyber insurance policy.
We can also discuss the costs of securing new cyber insurance coverage if needed.

Resources

Inc. Magazine: Hackers typically go after companies with fewer than 100 employees www.inc.com
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): Security Tip (ST04-001) www.cisa.gov
CyberSecurity Magazine: 10 Small Business Cyber Security Statistics You Should Know cybersecurity-magazine.com
Cybercrime Magazine: 60 Percent of Small Companies Close 6 Months of Being Hacked cybersecurityventures.com
Statista: Cybercrime Expected To Skyrocket in Coming Years www.statista.com
Merriam-Webster Dictionary: definition of cyberattack www.merriam-webster.com
Wikipedia Encyclopedia: meaning of data breach wikipedia.org
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company: definition of cyber insurance www.nationwide.com
FBI: FBI Releases the Internet Crime Complaint Center 2021 Internet Crime Report www.fbi.gov

Cybercrime Is Rising, Do You Need Cyber Security?

Find Out if Your Church, School or Nonprofit Is at Risk of a Cyber Attack